Pope Benedict XVI today decried the "clouds of evil" of war, greed and tribalism in Africa while administering mass for up to 1 million people in the Angolan capital, Luanda.Addressing an open-air service at the end of a seven-day trip to Africa that has attracted huge crowds and controversy, the pope urged the worshippers to continue rebuilding Angola after decades of conflict.
His message followed earlier calls for African leaders to step up their fight against corruption and poverty which have hindered the continent's development.
"Tragically, the clouds of evil have also overshadowed Africa, including this beloved nation of Angola," he said.
"We think of the evil of war, the murderous fruits of tribalism and ethnic rivalry, the greed which corrupts men's hearts, enslaves the poor, and robs future generations of the resources they need to create a more equitable and just society, a society truly and authentically African in its genius and values."
Catholics make up about 55% of the Angolan population, a legacy of Portugal's colonial rule. Some of the congregation had slept on the field near a cement factory on Luanda's outskirts, to guarantee their seats.
Others left home before dawn, walking eight miles from the city centre to gather in temperatures that meant hundreds of people had to be treated for heat stroke.
Dresses, caps and T-shirts bore the image of Jesus and Benedict, who was cheered as his Mercedes "popemobile" approached the steel stage. He began his sermon by expressing sorrow at the deaths of two women in their 20s who died during a stampede on Saturday night at a football stadium where he was speaking to 30,000 young Angolans. About 40 people were injured.
At a private mass earlier yesterday, the pope addressed several thousand worshippers, mostly from the clergy, about the perils of witchcraft.
Evangelical sects mixing traditional African beliefs and Christianity have flourished in Angola since the end of the civil war in 2002, and Benedict urged Catholics to convince people who had left the church to return and to reach out to those believing in witches.
"So many of them are living in fear of spirits, of malign and threatening powers. In their bewilderment they even end up condemning street children and the elderly as alleged sorcerers," he said.
The week-long visit to Angola and Cameroon was the 81-year-old pope's first trip to Africa, and he spoke today of "this great continent so filled with hope, yet so thirsty for justice, for peace".
While the reception he received locally was overwhelmingly positive, there was strong criticism from abroad.
On Friday, the pope chided countries that have legalised abortion, with his spokesman later clarifying he was only referring to abortion as a means of "population control".
Earlier, in Cameroon, the pope angered many aid agencies and western countries when he said that condom distribution could exacerbate the Aids problem in Africa.
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(Source: GUK)